Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to unleash your purpose and potential?

Come join our dynamic social service enterprise as we help over 200,000 individuals across the Chicagoland area.

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is the oldest and largest women’s organization in the region, with a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. To learn more about the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, please visit our website at https://ywcachicago.org.

SUMMARY: As an Workforce Innovation Specialist for the Economic Empowerment Institute, administered by the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, you will be responsible for providing guidance, direction and facilitation of two 15 week Youth Career Pathway CompTIA Program. Will assist participants as they unleash their purpose and potential in identifying and pursuing sustainable career pathways that provide economic and quality-of-life advancements in the IT field. The person in this position provides coaching, professional development and empowerment plans that help participants identify their motivators, strengths, competencies, job readiness needs, potential career challenges and available community support. The Workforce Innovation Specialist is a full-time, exempt position, reporting directly to the Director of the Workforce Innovation Institute

COLLABORATES WITH: Collaborations and managers, coaches, business engagement specialist, YWCA staff members, community partners, agencies and businesses, network of employers, aldermen offices, chambers of commerce, organizations that support senior services and members of community-based organization groups and other city and state agencies

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Coaching, Client Development, and Empowerment Strategies. Facilitate monthly cohort using teaching manual. Create and implement empowerment plans that incorporate coaching tools in the assessments of motivators, strengths, competencies, job readiness needs, potential challenges, community support, etc. Facilitate ongoing learning to foster the development of skills, behaviors, critical thinking, self-reflection and coachability in support of the achievement of the empowerment plan goals and objectives. Identify strategic solutions and action plans to fill in the gaps between the plan objectives and current reality. Establish specific, measurable, attainable plan results and a timeline for their achievement. Engage in regularly scheduled possibility partnership conversations to celebrate accomplishments, assess progress, create next steps, and identify/remove obstacles. Outreach: Attend program-sponsored and donor-related events, facilitate events such as open houses, community events that present opportunities to recruit, meetings, trainings, etc. to expand diversity and numbers of potential clients served, as well as potential employment opportunities for participants. Identify and prioritize job placement targets for clients Strategize with the Manager in identifying innovative recruiting and service delivery activities to support program expansion.

Evaluation: Produce monthly reports that document all direct service activities and outcomes. Job-start verifications, Retention substantiations and Contractual placements.

Professional Development: Understand the required elements to deliver a state-of-the art, strengths-based coaching model. Engage in continuous learning to enhance coaching skills and awareness of career opportunities and marketplace needs.

QUALIFICATIONS: Three years of experience in providing vocational coaching/case management service with some preferred knowledge of information systems. Effective verbal and written communication skills. Strong relationship-building skills. Keen project planning and organizing skills, with an ability to support people being accountable for results. Initiative driven, with insightful, creative, solutions-oriented problem-solving skills. Adept at giving and receiving developmental feedback, with keen listening abilities.

EDUCATION REQUIRED: A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (vocational counseling, sociology, social services, psychology, etc.) or equivalent training and experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT and SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: As Workforce Innovation Specialist, you must be open to traveling and working from to different YWCA sites, work in the field within metropolitan Chicago to solidify community partners, employer recruitment, attend meetings and events. The work environment includes offices and sites where youth and adults are present. The noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping, or kneeling. There may be a need to reach or to lift objects. While in the office, there may be long periods of sitting. Reasonable accommodation will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position. Must also meet requirements of local school district as it relates to background checks, fingerprinting, physical/TB Testing, and vaccination.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. This position may require work on some evenings and weekends. Schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.

Pay Range: $48,000-$50,000

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

• Generous amount of PTO & Sick Leave,12 Observed holidays, & Floating Holidays
• Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Short & Long Term Disability Insurance, & 401(k)
• Flexible Benefits - employee, dependent, commuter & HSA
• Employee Assistance Program (24/7)
• YWCA Retirement Fund (after completion of 2 years of service)
• Pet Insurance
• 37.5 hour work week

MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY DISCLOSURE: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago requires all staff to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. An individual is considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after receipt of the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna) or two weeks after receipt of a one-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson). Candidates who are offered a position must provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date. Individuals in need of an exemption from this policy due to a medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief, or as otherwise required by law, must submit a completed Request for Accommodation form to HR.

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

***This job description is not intended to represent a complete list of all duties and responsibilities. There may be unplanned activities and other duties assigned.***